The House of Representatives authorized Amtrak for another five years, and did so by a veto-proof margin today, marking a stiff rebuke to those like John McCain who would see Amtrak's demise.

Over the objections of the White House, the House passed the bill offering $15 billion over five years to Amtrak. The Bush administration threatened a veto, but the increasing popularity of passenger rail and the ever-decreasing popularity of President Bush limits the relevancy of the President on this issue.

The vote also means that should the bill become law, and John McCain wins the White House, he will be unable to veto Amtrak funding from the budget, as the money was appropriated before he took office. Since McCain will likely be a one-term President (he will be 76 at the end of his term), this means Amtrak will survive his "non-negotiable" position.

The House vote was 311 - 104.

7:09 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Election '08, Metro, Northern Virginia, Politics, Rail, Washington, DC

Highlights since March 1st - enjoy!

1. The worst plan. Ever. Why charging tolls to drive in the city is a bad idea.
2. Cheap Eats Food for $5 per serving? It's possible even with rising prices.
3. The Death of Customer Service Good customer service is hard to come by these days. An experience worth reading.
4. Obama Wins Texas! Maybe? Sort of... Not really? A look at the Texas "primus" (primary + caucus).
5. Mac Secrets A look at exciting new software from the makers of Quicksilver.

1:03 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Apple, Blog Roundup, Business, Economics, Election '08, Maryland, Northern Virginia, Pet Peeves, Politics, Technology, Traffic, Travel

If local government officials get their way, DC roads will become toll roads, under a proposal to be released Wednesday. The plan calls for the implementation of a toll system that would make most DC roads toll roads, including the bridges and roads into and out of the city.
Continue Reading...

9:23 am | Comment (3) | Print | Categories: Northern Virginia, Traffic, Travel, Washington, DC

I went shopping today. It was a less than pleasant experience.

Between understaffed retail stores, poor customer service from the staff members they DID bother to employ, rude customers who were convinced that they (and generally their sixteen children) were the most important people on earth, large volumes of traffic, products missing or not available and misplaced items, it represented a complete failure of the retail sector to win my heart or my mind. Continue Reading...

11:54 pm | Comment (2) | Print | Categories: Business, Northern Virginia, Pet Peeves, Traffic, Washington, DC

1:47 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Maryland, Metro, Northern Virginia, Washington, DC

Protesters in Manassas, VA. Photo from the New York Times.

11:34 am | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Election '08, Immigration, Northern Virginia, Politics

(Picture from www.nbc4.com)

3:51 pm | Comment (0) | Print | Categories: Northern Virginia, Traffic